grip English · revision 7604

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=ine-pro *gʰreyb-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɡɹɪp/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[inh|ang|gripe|t=grasp, clutch]], fused with gripa, a handful, sheaf;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) the verb is [[m|ang|grippan|t=to grip, seize]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Both are related to Old English grīpan, to seize (see [[gripe]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from West Germanic *greipan,^(Etymonline) from PIE *ghreib-.^(Barnhart 1988) French [[m|fr|gripper|t=to seize]] and griffe, claw, are Germanic loans.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A grasp, clutch: gripe about 725, in ''Beowulf'';^(Barnhart 1988) grippan about 950, in the Lindisfarne Gospels.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The act of grasping, the power to grip, is from about 1200,^(Etymonline) and firm hold or control, power, from 1450–70 (the mid-15th century).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Intellectual hold, ''to lose one's grip'', is from 1635.^(OED 1989) A handshake, especially the secret one of a society, is from 1785.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) That by which a thing is grasped, a handle, is from 1867.^(Etymonline) A stagehand who shifts scenery is from 1888.^(Etymonline) Ability to function well, competence, is a further sense.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – gripe, a clutch.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 950 – grippan, to seize.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1450–70 – control, mastery.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1635 – intellectual hold.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1785 – a secret handshake.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1888 – a stagehand.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A firm hold or [[grasp]], or the strength of it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A way of holding something, as a racket or club.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Understanding or [[control]]: ''get a grip on''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[handle]], or a device that grasps and holds.^(AHD)

+ # A stagehand who moves scenery or camera equipment.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To take and keep a firm hold of.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To hold the [[interest]] or attention of.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gripper]]

+ * [[grippingly]]

+ * [[gripless]]

+ * [[gripping]]

+ * [[grippy]]

+ * [[regrip]]

+ * [[ungrip]]

+ * [[gripman]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gripe]]

+ * [[grasp]]

+ * [[grope]]

+ * [[grab]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Two unrelated words are a dialect grip, a small ditch or trench, from Old English grȳpe,^(MWU 2024)^(Wright 1898) and grip, a variant of [[grippe]], influenza.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}